Admission and day of surgery

Most patients will be asked to attend the Theatre admissions
Lounge for admission on the day of surgery. This is a comfortable
Lounge area adjacent to theatre. Unfortunately partners are unable
to stay with you following admission.

On Arrival you will be admitted to this lounge area by the
nursing staff who will start the preoperative process by admitting
you to Hospital, checking your basic observations such as
Temperature, Pulse and Blood pressure, as well as measuring you for
your anti clot stockings. If relevant a pregnancy test will be
performed on all women of child bearing age

You will be seen by the Anaesthetist who will be putting you to
sleep for your operation who will discuss the planned anaesthetic
as well as pain and nausea control as will answer any questions you
may have.

You will also be seen by the surgeon who will be performing your
surgery who will ensure that the surgery is still correct and will
discuss the operation with you again and answer any final questions
or concerns that you may have.

Immediately prior to surgery you will walk down to theatre to be
met by the anaesthetic and nursing staff who will check your
identity and complete the mandatory checklists prior to starting
the anaesthetic and your surgery.

Anaesthesia is started in the anaesthetic room with an injection
through a cannula or tube that will be inserted into a vein in the
back of your hand or wrist. When you are anaesthetised you will be
transferred to the operating room so that your surgery will
commence

Recovery

Immediately following your surgery you will be moved to theatre
"recovery". This is a ward area that has the same monitoring
systems that are used during your anaesthesia, and you will be
looked after on a 1:1 basis by a recovery Nurse. The aim of this
ward is to monitor you closely immediately after surgery to allow
you to recover from your anaesthesia and surgery before you are
well enough to be transferred back to the Gynaecology ward.

During this time your Temperature pulse, Blood Pressure and
Oxygen concentration will be monitored and recorded , your kidney
function will be checked by the collection of urine in your
catheter ( a tube inserted into your bladder whilst you are asleep
that allows your bladder to empty continuously) and your need for
pain and nausea relief will be checked. Once you are awake enough
you can start consuming some small quantities of drink at this
stage.

As soon as you are drinking any intravenous infusion "drips"
will be taken down which make you more mobile and less confined
although this may not occur until you return to the ward.

Once the recovery staff are happy that you have recovered
sufficiently from your anaesthetic you will be taken on a trolley/
bed back to the ward.